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Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Monday, February 5, 2007
Training a Parrot to Talk
The innate ability of a parrot to talk (well, mimic anyway) has to be the main reason why parrots are so popular as pets.
Whenever somebody visits our home, one of the first questions they ask about our African Grey is whether he can talk. I have to tell them that, sometimes, I wish he would stop. Needless to say he is often silent when a stranger is present. He will sit there looking at them quizzically refusing to utter a single peep.
So how can you train a parrot to talk?
Firstly it really does depend on the type of parrot. Some species, or indeed individual birds, will learn far more readily. Many African Greys have a vocabulary of 1,000 words or more. Others, including parakeets and cockatiels, will hardly make a meaningful sound, unless you have a very talented bird, however long you spend trying to teach them.
The younger your parrot when you start to train him, the easier it will be. You can start once your bird has been mostly tamed. Training a parrot to talk will be frustrating and not very effective if your parrot is not settled and comfortable in your presence. A wild parrot may pick up some sounds but it is likely they will be sounds he hears on his own, such as the telephone.
Often, your parrot will start to mimic common phrases heard inside your home without specific training. They are much more likely to imitate words or phrases when shouted or said with strong emotion. If this is the case you may want to be careful what you say around your parrots since he will be just as happy to repeat cuss words as anything else.
Start training your parrot to talk with a couple of 10 or 15 minutes sessions twice a day. Any longer than this and he (and you) will become bored. Begin with something simple like “Good morning” or maybe his name. You will have to repeat the phrase many times at first. Try and add emotion to your voice if you can since he will be more interested in the sound and hence more likely to try and copy you.
Once you get some sort of response, even if it's only a peep, praise your parrot and give her a treat of her favorite food. It will only be a little noise at first but be sure to offer him a small treat every time he tries. After a number of attempts it will become closer to the sound of your voice. It may take two or three weeks even for a natural mimic, so don't give up hope if it takes a while for the first words. Less talented birds may take several weeks or even months.
The first word or phrase always takes the longest time but subsequent words will come more quickly. Once he has the first few words, he will often pick up new words with only 2 or 3 easy training sessions.
It's a good idea to have a certain phrase at each time of day. For example, mine will happily call out “Good morning!” when I come downstairs in the morning since this is the phrase I used during the morning training session before work.
Whenever somebody visits our home, one of the first questions they ask about our African Grey is whether he can talk. I have to tell them that, sometimes, I wish he would stop. Needless to say he is often silent when a stranger is present. He will sit there looking at them quizzically refusing to utter a single peep.
So how can you train a parrot to talk?
Firstly it really does depend on the type of parrot. Some species, or indeed individual birds, will learn far more readily. Many African Greys have a vocabulary of 1,000 words or more. Others, including parakeets and cockatiels, will hardly make a meaningful sound, unless you have a very talented bird, however long you spend trying to teach them.
The younger your parrot when you start to train him, the easier it will be. You can start once your bird has been mostly tamed. Training a parrot to talk will be frustrating and not very effective if your parrot is not settled and comfortable in your presence. A wild parrot may pick up some sounds but it is likely they will be sounds he hears on his own, such as the telephone.
Often, your parrot will start to mimic common phrases heard inside your home without specific training. They are much more likely to imitate words or phrases when shouted or said with strong emotion. If this is the case you may want to be careful what you say around your parrots since he will be just as happy to repeat cuss words as anything else.
Start training your parrot to talk with a couple of 10 or 15 minutes sessions twice a day. Any longer than this and he (and you) will become bored. Begin with something simple like “Good morning” or maybe his name. You will have to repeat the phrase many times at first. Try and add emotion to your voice if you can since he will be more interested in the sound and hence more likely to try and copy you.
Once you get some sort of response, even if it's only a peep, praise your parrot and give her a treat of her favorite food. It will only be a little noise at first but be sure to offer him a small treat every time he tries. After a number of attempts it will become closer to the sound of your voice. It may take two or three weeks even for a natural mimic, so don't give up hope if it takes a while for the first words. Less talented birds may take several weeks or even months.
The first word or phrase always takes the longest time but subsequent words will come more quickly. Once he has the first few words, he will often pick up new words with only 2 or 3 easy training sessions.
It's a good idea to have a certain phrase at each time of day. For example, mine will happily call out “Good morning!” when I come downstairs in the morning since this is the phrase I used during the morning training session before work.
Sunday, February 4, 2007
Replacing Bad Behavior to Tame Parrots
This works well with parrots who are aggressive and badly behaved. Along with the food method below this can be used on parrots that have not had their wings clipped.
You will need some sort of finger protection for this. If your parrot is very large and aggressive you may need a whole glove.
Put you protected fingers near the parrot and let him bite them. If you can feel it, you need more protection! Let him bite for a while, then give him a small snack.
It may seem odd to reward bad behavior but we want to replace this undesired behavior with something else.
Continue to do this for a little while and your parrot will start to link biting with getting a snack.
Eventually he will become half-hearted about the biting since it's a lot of work for a little food.
He will be looking for the treat every time he thinks of biting. You have effectively linked getting food with biting. he starts to think of biting you and he looks for food. A better result all round.
Once you notice this you can switch the reward to a snack for GOOD behavior. When he does not bite you give him a treat.
This process will leave your parrot thoroughly confused and he will be reluctant to bite you, or anybody else again.
You will need some sort of finger protection for this. If your parrot is very large and aggressive you may need a whole glove.
Put you protected fingers near the parrot and let him bite them. If you can feel it, you need more protection! Let him bite for a while, then give him a small snack.
It may seem odd to reward bad behavior but we want to replace this undesired behavior with something else.
Continue to do this for a little while and your parrot will start to link biting with getting a snack.
Eventually he will become half-hearted about the biting since it's a lot of work for a little food.
He will be looking for the treat every time he thinks of biting. You have effectively linked getting food with biting. he starts to think of biting you and he looks for food. A better result all round.
Once you notice this you can switch the reward to a snack for GOOD behavior. When he does not bite you give him a treat.
This process will leave your parrot thoroughly confused and he will be reluctant to bite you, or anybody else again.
Saturday, February 3, 2007
Using the Rescue method to Tame Parrots
Release your bird in a small dimly lit room, as for the towel method.
Since his wings are clipped he will flap around a little.
Talk gently to your parrot as you cup your hands around him and pick him up. Again, as with the towel method (see below) be will hate being on the ground. By lifting him up in your hand, he will start to see you as his rescuer, lifting him to a safe height. Do this several times a day and he will look forward to your touch.
Obviously, this method will not work well for an aggressive bird, unless you have very tough fingers, so revert to the towel method if he starts to bite.
Since his wings are clipped he will flap around a little.
Talk gently to your parrot as you cup your hands around him and pick him up. Again, as with the towel method (see below) be will hate being on the ground. By lifting him up in your hand, he will start to see you as his rescuer, lifting him to a safe height. Do this several times a day and he will look forward to your touch.
Obviously, this method will not work well for an aggressive bird, unless you have very tough fingers, so revert to the towel method if he starts to bite.
Friday, February 2, 2007
The Towel Parrot Taming Method.
If you have an aggressive wing-clipped bird, using a towel may some you some nasty bites. Use a clean hand towel and capture your bird.
This may be easier said than done but be slow and patient and enlist the aid of a helper if needed. Wrap the bird very gently in the towel. Give your parrot plenty of room to breath but not enough room to squirm and escape.
Move to a very quiet room with dim lighting. A small room is good in case you have to recapture your parrot. Hold your parrot, wrapped in the towel, against your chest and talk gently to it. If it will let you, stroke its head. Wait for him to be completely calm, this usually takes about 15 minutes.
Release him gently onto the floor. Since this is an unnatural position for a parrot he will want to step up onto your hand rather than stay down at ground level. Lift him up for a few minutes while talking to him then put him back on the floor. Again he will want to step up and look forward to you approaching him.
You may need to practice the towel method for as much as two week before your parrot is completely tame. It really varies depending on the temperament of the particular bird.
This may be easier said than done but be slow and patient and enlist the aid of a helper if needed. Wrap the bird very gently in the towel. Give your parrot plenty of room to breath but not enough room to squirm and escape.
Move to a very quiet room with dim lighting. A small room is good in case you have to recapture your parrot. Hold your parrot, wrapped in the towel, against your chest and talk gently to it. If it will let you, stroke its head. Wait for him to be completely calm, this usually takes about 15 minutes.
Release him gently onto the floor. Since this is an unnatural position for a parrot he will want to step up onto your hand rather than stay down at ground level. Lift him up for a few minutes while talking to him then put him back on the floor. Again he will want to step up and look forward to you approaching him.
You may need to practice the towel method for as much as two week before your parrot is completely tame. It really varies depending on the temperament of the particular bird.
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Using Food to Tame Parrots
One thing parrots like is food, especially when they are hungry. This method works well with more timid birds.
Less so with aggressive biting birds.
Firstly remove all food from the cage the day prior to training. No longer than a day, you don't want to starve the bird, just leave him a little hungry and wondering if it is feeding time yet.
Put a small amount of food in a small shallow dish. Hold the dish at arms length and move it slowly into the cage in front of the bird. he will most likely back away at first but when he sees the food he will be torn between grabbing a beak full and flying away.
Be patient and wait for him to come to you. If he is hungry enough he will approach the dish and and, with one eye on you, will peck at the food.
Let him eat from the dish, refilling as necessary.
Repeat this method of feeding him from 2 more days and he will soon look forward to your visits. After the third day, hold your hand under the dish and get closer to your parrot. He may be a little hesitant at first but if he is hungry enough, he will soon get used to your hand being closer.
The next day, hold his food in your hand. Again he may be reluctant at first. Be patient and let him come to you. Soon enough he will literally be eating out of your hand. Once he is comfortable with this, you can put the food down in front of him and gently, with the emphasis on gently, stroke his feathers, talking to him in a quiet voice.
Within a week of feeding him this way, you will no longer need food and can touch or stroke your parrot without him running away.
Less so with aggressive biting birds.
Firstly remove all food from the cage the day prior to training. No longer than a day, you don't want to starve the bird, just leave him a little hungry and wondering if it is feeding time yet.
Put a small amount of food in a small shallow dish. Hold the dish at arms length and move it slowly into the cage in front of the bird. he will most likely back away at first but when he sees the food he will be torn between grabbing a beak full and flying away.
Be patient and wait for him to come to you. If he is hungry enough he will approach the dish and and, with one eye on you, will peck at the food.
Let him eat from the dish, refilling as necessary.
Repeat this method of feeding him from 2 more days and he will soon look forward to your visits. After the third day, hold your hand under the dish and get closer to your parrot. He may be a little hesitant at first but if he is hungry enough, he will soon get used to your hand being closer.
The next day, hold his food in your hand. Again he may be reluctant at first. Be patient and let him come to you. Soon enough he will literally be eating out of your hand. Once he is comfortable with this, you can put the food down in front of him and gently, with the emphasis on gently, stroke his feathers, talking to him in a quiet voice.
Within a week of feeding him this way, you will no longer need food and can touch or stroke your parrot without him running away.
Taming Parrots
If you ask four parrot tamers about the best way to tame a parrot you will probably get four answers. Since I'm not biased and all three of the methods I'm going to discuss have their merits I'm not taking sides.
The first thing I will say on the subject is what NOT to do while taming.
Some “experts” still recommend that you punish your parrot in some way if he is disobedient By covering your parrot's cage. By banging on the cage. Even by screaming at the parrot. Other than alarming the neighbors, this will have no effect. Quite the reverse in fact. You need to build the trust of your parrot, not make him scared of you.
Your chosen method of taming will depend to some extent on the type of bird and his current attitude towards you. A large aggressive bird will need very different treatment than a timid smaller bird. Parrots generally have very strong beaks and a bite will leave you with a bad bruise or cut.
The four parrot taming methods I'm going to discuss are:
The first thing I will say on the subject is what NOT to do while taming.
Some “experts” still recommend that you punish your parrot in some way if he is disobedient By covering your parrot's cage. By banging on the cage. Even by screaming at the parrot. Other than alarming the neighbors, this will have no effect. Quite the reverse in fact. You need to build the trust of your parrot, not make him scared of you.
Your chosen method of taming will depend to some extent on the type of bird and his current attitude towards you. A large aggressive bird will need very different treatment than a timid smaller bird. Parrots generally have very strong beaks and a bite will leave you with a bad bruise or cut.
The four parrot taming methods I'm going to discuss are:
- Using food
- The towel method
- The rescue method
- Replacing bad behavior
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